Improvement in machines for pressing the soles of boots and shoes



s F. SEAVE B, E, w. sounuwolnn, J. M. ANTHONY. Machines for Pressing the Soles of Boots and Shoes,

1N0. 137,245 PatentedMarch 25,1873.

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UNITED STATES PATENT DFFIGE.

GEORGE F. SEAVER, EDWARD W. SOUTHWORTH, AND JOHN M. ANTHONY, OF ASHLAND, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR PRESSING THE SOLES 0F BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specifioation forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,245, dated March 25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE F. SEAVER, EDWARD W. SOUTHWORTH, and JOHN M. ANTHONY, of Ashland, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machine for Pressing Soles to Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is a central vertical transverse section, and Fig. 2 is an end view, of our improved machine. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail horizontal sections, the former taken through the upper portion and the latter through the lower portion of the dies when closed. Fig. 5 is a side view, showing a portion of our invention.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in machines for pressin g the soles of boots and. shoes, &c., whereby the sole is in an expeditious and effective manner pressed so as to form the finished shape before applying it to the upper that it is desired to have when the boot or shoe, &c., is completed. Our improvements consist mainly, in a series of mechanical devices, arranged and operated, as will be more fully explained hereafter, so that by one operation a vertical and lateral pressure are brought to bear at the same time upon a sole of a boot or shoe, formed in one piece before its insertion in the machine, in such a manner as to form the sole in the finished shape that it is desired to assume when the boot or shoe, &c., is completed.

In the drawing, a represents atable or frame, to the top of which on each side are attached standards I) b, supporting a curved top, 9, and provided with ways 0, between which is arranged to travel a head, 0, curved and chamfered, or otherwise formed, at the top, and connected at each end with vertical beams f. Attached to the bottom of the head 6, by a plate h, formed with slots 13, that fit over and are held by the heads of the screws k, or otherwise arranged to be easily adjusted to or withdrawn from the head 6, is an upper die, K, having a horizontal projection or body, K, Fig. 3, the bottom and side of which are curved inthe desired shape to form the finished sole, and a vertical projection or flange, K, extending downward, and

curved on the inside in the shape desired for the side of the finished sole, or to correspond with and impinge against when lowered, the side curve of a horizontal projection I, Fig. 4, which forms the body of the lower die, l, that has an upper vertical projection or flange, Z, curved on the inside in the desired shape of the side of the finished sole, and to 'correspend with and impinge against the horizontal projection or body, K, when the dies are closed as shown in Fig. 4. The top of the horizontal projection or body I, is countersunk and curved in the proper shape desired for the bottom of the finished sole, which, in its prepared state, is placed in it. The bottom of the die 1 is formed on the sides with beveled projections n, or otherwise arranged. to slide in and out of suitable mortises or grooves 0 formed in side flanges p of a traveling bed or platform, 19, which is countersunk, or formed with three upward-projecting flanges, p, to receive and hold the lower portion of the die 1. The bottom of the bed or platform 1) is rabbeted on the sides so as to fit over and travel back and forth on rabbeted ways 1, and is provided with a plate, q, the

ends of which travel in the rabbets of the ways T, which are connected with the top of the frame a; or the bed 19 may be arranged in any other suitable way to travel back and forth that we may prefer to adopt. Gonnecting with the bed 1) are arms t, passing through the plate q and frame a, and turning on a pivot or rod, .9, supported in a bearing, 8, attached to the under side of the top of the frame a, or to the plate q. The lower ends of the arms t are bifurcated so as to en gage with and be operated by cams a, arranged as shown in Fig. 5, and connected with a shaft, 11, supported in bearings w connected with vertical standards 10 attached to the bottom of the frame-top a. Connected with the shaft 1:, in the center, is a cog-wheel, .r, with which engages a small cog-wheel, 3 attached to a shaft, y, that is supported and turns in bearings z connected with one end of the frame a, and is supplied with a crank, 2, wheel, or other suitable operating device. The shaft 1: is provided at each end with eccentric or crank rods A that engage with the vertical beams f. The beams f are formed near the top with a slot, in which are plates B, that receive and hold screws 0, that connect with and hold the ends of the head 0, which, if desired, may be otherwise arranged to be readily adjusted in, or connected with, the beams f. In the top of the slots formed in the beams f is a plate, H, between which and the top of the plates B is inserted and held, by adjustable plates E, rubber or other elastic cushions F, so as to allow of the giving of the head 0 when an extra thick sole is pressed between the dies K I. In the tops of the beams f are screws I, provided with suitable thumb-heads, and operating against the tops of the plates H above the rubber F, so as to press down or loosen the ends of the head 0, and keep it properly adjusted.

By the above description, reference being bad to the drawings it will be seen that when power is applied to the shaft 3 the cog-wheels y and w are revolved, thus actuating the shaft 1; and crank-rods A so as to operate the beams f, and raise the upper die K from, or lower it upon, the lower die, I, and at the same time the cams u are revolved so as to bring them in contact with the bifurcated ends of the arms t, which are carried forward or backward, thus causing the bed or platform 19 to travel back or forth on the ways 1', and carry the lower die 1 against or from the upper die K. When'the head 0 is raised, and poweris ap-, plied to the shaft 9 the beams f are operated, as above described, and the head 6 is lowered, thus bringing the upper die K down upon the lower die 1, so that the curved bottom of its projection K, formed in the finished shape of the sole, is pressed upon the prepared sole, G, which is placed in the top of the projection Z, curved in the required shape of the finished sole, and at the same time the lower die Z is brought by the operation of the travcling-bed p laterally against the upper die K, so that the curved sides of the projections K Z, formed in the shape of the sides of the fin ished sole, are pressed against the sides of the prepared sole G, which is by the vertical and lateral pressure thus exerted upon it formed in the shape required. When the above operation is accomplished the upper die K is, by the action of the beams f, 8w, operated as before described, raised from the lower die I. which is carried away from the upper die K, by the action of the bed 1), operated by the arms t and cams a, in the manner above described. The dies K and l are arranged so as to be easily adjusted to or in, or withdrawn from, the bed or platform 17, or head 6, so that dies of any desired form may be readily inserted in their places. By inserting a suitable bed and die in place of those herein described and shown, and detaching the arms t, the machine may be used for pressing the heels of boots or shoes, &c., or for any other suitable purpose that may be desired. 1

Having thus fully described our improvements, what we claim as our invention, and desire to have secured to us by Letters Patent, is-

1. A machine for pressing the soles of boots and shoes, &c., provided with adjustable curved dies K and 1, arranged and operated substantially as shown, so that a vertical and lateral pressure is at the same time brought to bear upon a sole of aboot or shoe, &c., and form it in the desired finished shape, substantially as specified. i

2. In a machine for pressing the soles of" boots and shoes, 800., a curved adjustable die Z, arranged as described, in combination with a sliding bed or platform, 10, arranged and operated substantially as specified.

4. In a machine for pressing the soles of boots and shoes,-&c., cams u, arranged on and operated by shaft o, cog-wheels x y, and shaft y in combination with bifurcated arms t, and bed or platform 1), arranged and operated substantially as specified.

5. The combination of dies K I, head 0, beams f, crank-rods A, shaft 0, cog-wheels a: y, shaft y, standards I) b and w, and frame a, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The combination of dies K I, platform or bed 19, head 6, standards I) b, beams f, shafts o y, cog-wheels a; y, cams a, bifurcated arms t and frame a, all arranged and operated substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. F. SEAVER. ED. W. SOUTHWORTH. JOHN M. ANTHONY. Witnesses:

W. H. SEAVER, ELIAB HOLBROOK. 

